Electric commercial vehicles pack more
horsepower, accelerate faster and can pull more load. They’re also quieter and
easier to drive.

3.
Maintenance is much simpler.

There are far fewer components in electric
vehicles, which makes servicing them less complex.

Photo courtesy of Meritor

Cost
vs. Opportunity

It’s true that electric vehicles are
expensive, but government incentives in California and other states
significantly reduce the overall cost.

Prices are also projected to drop quickly.
Within 15 years, it’s expected that electric vehicles will be no more expensive
than diesel equivalents.

Charging infrastructure is costly, and in some
places the grid will need to be upgraded. But all of these barriers can be
overcome.

The question is, how do you know if
electrification is right for you? Here are some factors to consider.

1. What
is your duty cycle?

Electric vehicles work best in operations that
involve a lot of starting and stopping, like refuse collection or pickup and
delivery fleets that return to the same location every day and can be charged
overnight.

2. How
complex is my service network?

In other words, how big a challenge will it be
to retrain technicians?

3. Is
environmental stewardship important to my business model?

If it is, electrification is clearly the way
to go.

Photo courtesy of Meritor

Talking
about a revolution

It’s crucial to keep in mind that electric
vehicle technology is still evolving, and there will be growing pains.

The onus is on OEMs to thoroughly test
electric vehicles and resolve any concerns.

Still, electrification is where our industry
is headed. It’s expected some fleets will be fully electric within 20 years,
and many are already moving in this direction.

It’s natural to be cautious about change, but
here’s my advice: Be prepared, and don’t be afraid.

Join me at the North American Commercial
Vehicle Show (NACV Show), Oct. 28-31 in Atlanta, where the latest electric
technology will be on display!

John BennettVice President and Chief Technology Officer at Meritor

﻿John Bennett is vice president and chief technology officer at Meritor, a leading global provider of technology and solutions for commercial and industrial vehicles. Meritor will be exhibiting at the NACV Show at Booth 6945.

This article was sponsored by the North American Commercial Vehicle Show (NACV Show). For more information about the NACV Show and how to attend, visit www.nacvshow.com﻿/attend. Make sure to use promo code FST19 to get your free expo hall pass.*